Margaret Elaine (Dovey) Whitlam AO (1919 - 2012)

Born 19 Nov 1919 in Bondi, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC — married Apr 1942 in St Michael's Church of England, Vaucluse, NSW

Died 17 Mar 2012 at age 92 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: John Cherry [send private message]

Biography

Margaret (Dovey) Whitlam AO is Notable.

Miss Margaret Dovey was the wife of Gough Whitlam, the 21st Prime Minister of Australia

At the wedding of Miss Margaret Dovey, the well-known swimmer, and Mr Edward Gough Whitlam... the bride was attended by Mrs Cedric Ashton and Miss Freda Whitlam. "Margaret's matron of honour, her good friend Sonia Ashton, had barely seen her husband since their marriage on New Year's Eve 1941. On the afternoon of 22 April 1942 Cedric Ashton arrived home unannounced, to surprise his wife with a period of unexpected leave... The first Sonia knew he was home was seeing him coming down the aisle."^[1]

BIRTH NOTICE. DOVEY.—November 19, 1919, at Kaba Kaul, Bondi, the wife of W. R. Dovey (Mary Duncan)—a daughter. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Sat 22 Nov 1919, Page 12: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15875331

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPH. MARRIAGE OF K.C.'s DAUGHTER. MR. and MRS. EDWARD GOUGH WHITLAM, who were married at St. Michael's Church, Vaucluse, yesterday afternoon. The bride was formerly Miss Margaret Dovey.

CEREMONY AT VAUCLUSE. Whitlam-Dovey Wedding. Of interest to Sydney University and swimming circles and to the legal profession was the wedding of Miss Margaret Dovey, the well-known swimmer, and Mr. Edward Gough Whitlam, which took place at St. Michael's Church, Vaucluse, yesterday afternoon. The bride, who is the only daughter of Mr. W. R. Dovey, K.C., and Mrs. Dovey, of Vaucluse, wore a white satin bridal frock, and carried a handkerchief which belonged to her mother. She was attended by Mrs. Cedric Ashton and Miss Freda Whitlam, sister of the bridegroom, who both wore sapphire blue velvet frocks. The bridegroom, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. F. W. Whitlam, of Canberra, and is associate to Mr. Justice Maxwell, is a member of the R.A.A.F. Reserve, and a graduate in Arts of Sydney University, where he is in his final year as a law student. Canon A. H. Garnsey, warden of St. Paul's College, Sydney University, of which the bridegroom was senior student, officiated. A reception was held at the home of the bride's parents at Vaucluse. After a short honeymoon. Mr. and Mrs. Gough Whitlam will make their home at Elizabeth Bay, where they have taken a flat. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thu 23 Apr 1942, Page 3: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17814007

Sources

1. ↑ BOOK: Gough Whitlam Volume 1 by Jenny Hocking, Google archive of the Book titled Gough Whitlam Volume 1

• Wikipedia entry for Margaret Whitlam

• Museum of Australian Democracy